1939

Manhattan: 6th Avenue - Christopher Street

Sixth Avenue, west side, at the convergence of Christopher Street and Greenwich Avenue, showing, a diner at the southerly apex, both the new Detention House for Women at the northerly apex, opposite the W. 8th Street "El" Station. The clock tower seen is atop the Jefferson Market Court. View No. 2 is northwestward from a vantage point on the east side of the Avenue, near Waverly Place. In this instance the "El" has been partially razed. Note the iron grille near the curbing. This is a ventilator shaft for the new subway which at this date is under construction. January 7, 1939. View 2: February 19, 1939. P. L. Sperr (3) A view similar to No. 2 several months later. The Times of April 4, 1939 reports the renaming of this open area as "Village Square" under local legislation introduced by Councilman Howard H. Spellman. This was arrived at in a contest among villagers conducted by the Sixth Avenue Association. It was formerly known as "Jefferson Market Square" and is at the intersection of Eighth Street, Christopher Street, Greenwich Avenue and Sixth Avenue. May 19, 1939 P. L. Sperr

Photo from the New York Public Library - Milstein Collection